Water-excluding device for bathing-caps.



E. S. BULLARD. WATEREXCLUDING DEVICE FOR BATHING CAPS.

APPLICATION HLED1UNE2h1915.

1 1 84,3 1 7 Patented May 23, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

wnussses mvem'on E. S. BULLARD.

WATER EXCLUDING DEVICE FOR BATHING CAPS.

APPLICATION FILED xumzzl. I315.

Patented May 23, 1916.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS ERNEST S. .BULLARlD, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA.

WATEREXCLUDING DEVICE FOR BATHING-CAPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed June 21, 1915. Serial No. 35,216.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST S. BULLARD, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Wheeling, county of Ohio, and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Excluding Devices for Bathing-Caps,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to means for preventing the wetting of the hair of bathers, and more particularly to a device whereby access of water beneath the rim of a bathing cap is prevented.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device adjunctive to a bathing cap designed to embrace the head of a bather in such manner as will effectually prevent the passage of water beneath the edge of the cap.

' A further object is to provide a device of the character mentioned .adapted to conform to hollow or concave surfaces or irregularities in the head of the wearer whereby Water is excluded from the hair.

I With these and other objects in view, the

. invention resides in the features of construction, arrangement of parts and combinations of elements which will hereinafter be exemplified, reference being had to the acthis specification, in which- Figure 1 is a view showing the front and reverse faces of a preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view of a slightly modified form; Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of a second and third modified forms; Fig. 5 is a view, principally in top plan, showing a bathing cap embodying a fourth modification, one end of said cap being shown turned back to expose a portion of the under side; Fig. 6 is a section of the same; Fig. 7 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 5, showing a still further modification; Figs. 8 and 9 show still further modified forms respectively in service and out-of-service positions; Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a cap embodying a still further modified form; Fig. 11 is a side elevation of another modification; and Figs. 12 and 13 are enlarged detail sections of the devices shown in Figs. 10 and 11., respectively.

Referring to said drawings, in which like designating characters distinguish like parts throughout the several views-1 indicates a flat strapwhich may be composed of any suitable flexible material, preferably rubber elastic, and which has adhering to the inner face thereof an inflatable pneumatic tube 2 which is preferably of endless form, as shown in Fig. 1, to constitute two closely parallel tubular members. Said strap is designed to be fitted closely about the bottom edge of a bathing cap in substantially the position occupied by the band illustrated 1n Fig. 8 and to have its ends suitably connected over the forehead of the wearer, as by means of the hooks 3 and eyes 4 attached to the opposite ends of said strap. As is obvious, the inflated tube 2 will readily accommodate itself to irregularities in the sides and back of the wearers head and will therefore press the cap into such close proximity to the skin as to effectually prevent the passage thereby of water to the hair. Tendency of the pneumatic tube to roll from adjusted position is effectually prevented by the arrangement of the same to form two parallel members .as shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated a modified form consisting solely of a single pneumatic tube 2 which terminates at its opposite ends in flat end portions or flaps 5 designed to be connected after said tube has been drawn about a cap which has been preliminarily fitted on the head.

In Fig. 4 is shown a plain endless tube a cap disposed on the head. 'A similar end- ,less-tube2 is illustrated in Fig. 3, the same being, however, disposed in adhering relation to the inner face of an endless strap or band 1", the latter being designed to lessen the tendency of the tube to roll from ad justed position. An endless tube 2 of the character of that shown in Fig. 1 may be cemented directly on the under or inner side of a suitable form of bathing cap 6 adjacent to the edges of the latter, as shown in Fig. 5, said tube extending somewhat less than the entire distance around said edge and being designed to be drawn directly into close-fitting relation to the wearers head, as by means of a strap 7 and buckle 8 or by other suitable means carried by the cap.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a strap 1 having one end fixed to theouter surface of a cap 6 adjacent to the edge of the latter. A tube 2 is cemented to the under, or inner, side of said strap so that when the latter is drawn around to compress said cap against the wearers head it will press the cap into cavities and over irregularities in the head. The free end of said strap is designed for attachment to the fixed end, as shown.

In Fig. 8 is illustrated a flexible strap 1 having an adhering endless tube 2, said strap being cemented,- except at its ends, on

the outside of the cap 6 adjacent to the edge of the latter, said ends being designed to be drawn together and attached, as shown.

In Fig. 9 is depicted a construction similar to that in Fig. 7 the only difference residing in the fact that the cap 6 of Fig. 9 is formed in cap shape, whereas the cap 6 of Fig. 7 is unshaped and is intended to be collapsed about the head of the wearer.

In Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive I have shown a strap 1 with a tube cemented on its inner side for engaging the head, the upper edge of said strap being cemented to the lower edge of the cap 6 The cap is properly shaped except the front portion thereof which is adapted to be collapsed against the wearers forehead. The strap 1, which is attached only to the formed portion of the cap and is of insufficient length to completely encircle the head, has one end of a suitable strap or ribbon 10 attached to one of its ends and a buckle 11 attached to the other end thereof, said ribbon being designed for attachment to said buckle for drawing the unformed front of the cap into closefitting relation to the wearers forehead. The tube may be either of the single or doubled forms shown in Figs. 13 and 12, respectively. A suitable form of valve 12 is provided in the tube for admitting air for the purpose of inflation.

What is claimed is 1. A water excluding device for bathing caps comprising a flexible strap adapted to be fastened about the head of the wearer on the outside of said cap, and a pneumatic tube fixed on the inner face of said strap and designed to be coinpressed by the latter to cause the edge of the cap to conformably embrace the head of the wearer.

2. A water'excluding device for bathing caps, comprising a flexible strap for encir- .the cap, and a pneumatic tube fixed on the .mner face of sald strap and adapted to conformably embrace the head of the wearer for causing the edge of the cap to assume \\-'ater-excluding relation to the head, said strap being permanently attached to said cap at one end only and being adapted to have its opposite end attached to the cap in pressure applying relation to the tube.

4. A water excluding device for bathing caps comprising a flexible strap attached to the cap, and a neumatic tube fixed on the inner face of sald strap and adapted to bind upon the head of the wearer in such manner as to prevent the passage of water thereunder, said tube being connected to the cap only through the intermediacy of said strap.

5. A water-excluding device for bathing caps comprising a flexible strap adapted to be fastened about the head of the wearer, and an endless pneumatic tube fixed on the inner face of said strap and designed to conform to irregularities in the shape of the head, said tube being so arranged as to form two closely parallel members. 6. A water excluding device for bathing caps comprising a flexible strap attached to the cap, and a pneumatic tube located inward with respect to said strap and adapted to bind upon the head of the wearer in such manner as to prevent the passage of Water thereunder, said tube being of less length than said strap and adapted to only partially encircle the head.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. ERNEST S. BULLARD.

Witnesses:

H. E. DUNLAP, 7. F. KEEFER. 

